I've been a RockAuto customer for some time now and this most recent experience was just what I would expect. Several well-known brands of the product for me to choose from, in stock, at prices that are more than competitive. Fast shipping and great customer service, too!

This purchase (brake calipers) had core charges involved and the return/refund process was fast and easy as well.

Thanks again RockAuto!

Tom in Delaware

Upcoming EventsIf you would like your event featured here, e-mail us with details.

A competitor switched suppliers
for their private label wiper line
and created one of the best Wholesaler
Closeout bargains for RockAuto customers
ever! First-quality wiper blades and
refills made by Trico, including the
latest "beam-style" blades
and specialty products like Winter
and Teflon blades, are now available
priced under $4. Many cost less than
$1!

While some of these wipers normally cost over $20, we offer Teflon Shield, Neoform, and other direct fit premium wipers for less than $4 to exactly fit everything from Geo Metros to Ferrari 360s! Here are a few examples of Trico wipers now available as Wholesaler Closeouts:

It is the perfect
time to replace the wipers on all
your family's cars, or stock up on
wipers your customers will need if
you're a professional mechanic. As
with all Wholesaler Closeouts, quantities
are limited so get them while you
can! Find wipers for your vehicle
under "Wiper & Washer"
in the RockAuto
catalog.

Wiper Contest!
Premium wipers make great gifts for
graduations, weddings, Sweet Sixteens,
dinner parties, jury duty, or to welcome
new neighbors. Use them as pedestrian
bridges on your model train layout
or to replace your broken ceiling fan
blade. Possibilities are endless and,
to encourage creative thinking, we're
offering RockAuto T-Shirts and RockAuto
Hats for the most creative non-traditional
wiper blade uses. Send a picture and
description to marketing@rockauto.com
by April 30th and we'll feature some
of our favorites in our May newsletters.

Magneti Marelli Parts Now Available at RockAuto

RockAuto is pleased to offer automotive lighting by Magneti Marelli. This manufacturer, with their lighting division headquartered in Reutlingen, Germany, designs and builds automotive exterior lighting products for all major car manufacturers worldwide. Designed for European Market applications (vehicles originally sold within Europe), our Magneti Marelli parts are ready to ship to you from the UK.

If you find yourself in need of a 2000 Fiat Bravo Tail Lamp Assembly, a 2011 Renault Master Turn Signal Lamp Assembly, a 1996 Mercedes-Benz C200 Headlamp Assembly, or need new lighting for any other European Market vehicle, then be sure to check the Magneti Marelli lights available under the "Body-Exterior" category of the RockAuto catalog.

FREE Carlisle Show Tickets

Due
to overwhelming response, we are out
of free Carlisle Car Show tickets.
Thank you for your interest!

RockAuto has a limited number of free tickets available for customers. Tickets are valid for any of the Carlisle events listed above. If you have purchased parts in the last twelve months and would like up to two free tickets, please fill out this form completely and accurately. Tickets will be given away on a first-come, first-served basis. Limit of two tickets per household. All events are held at the Carlisle, Pennsylvania Fairgrounds unless noted. We will notify and mail tickets to the lucky recipients.

Forum of the Month

The Challenger forum is dedicated to the Dodge Challenger and their owners. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to start new topics, reply to conversations and privately message (PM) other members. Find conversations regarding general maintenance, detailing, mechanical problems and so much more. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today and become a part of the Challenger discussion!

If you are the
administrator or member of a forum
and you would like to see your website
featured in an upcoming newsletter
and receive a discount code to share
with your members, contact cynthia@rockauto.com.

Repair
Mistakes & Blunders

My first car was a used 1957 Triumph TR-3 and my first purchase afterwards was a shop manual for the car. My father told me not to do anything without asking him first, but of course, I knew better. Convinced that my car would benefit from a valve adjustment, I waited for my father to go to work, assembled my tools, read the instructions and dived into the Triumph's valve train. It took me about two hours. When I closed up the engine I felt like a surgeon at the end of a successful operation. I expected my car to leap out of the garage with newly found performance!

After a few cranks, the engine started and ran, but only on three cylinders. I was immediately struck with dread. My father was going to kill me. My grandfather's mechanic shop was at the bottom of the other side of the hill we lived on. My car would not make it up the hill on three cylinders, so I had a couple of my friends push me to the top. I coasted down into the shop and begged a mechanic to come outside and help me. I told him what I had done and he just nodded his head. He opened the hood and looked around, then closed it with a smile. He told me to fire it up, and it started right up and was running like it should, on all four cylinders.

It seems that I had forgotten to place one ignition wire back on a spark plug. Relief, and newly found wisdom, was my lesson for the day.

Howard in New York

Tell us about
your most infamous auto repair blunder
or unconventional fix. Use your woe
to help others avoid similar mistakes
or share off-the-wall solutions that
worked (at least for a while!). Please
e-mail your story to flamur@rockauto.com.
Include your mailing address and if
you would like a RockAuto T-Shirt
(please let us know your shirt size)
or Hat if we publish your story. See
the T-Shirts and Hats under Tools
& Universal Parts in the catalog.
The story will be credited using only
your first name and your vague geographic
location (state, province, country,
continent, etc.) so you can remain
semi-anonymous!

Automotive Trivia

Which manufacturer builds more shocks and struts than any other on the planet?

Recent experience with the transmission in my son’s 1990 Lincoln shifting erratically due to a missing throttle valve bushing located under the air intake made me curious about other parts not obviously associated with the transmission that significantly impact transmission performance. With the help of the Automatic Transmission Rebuilders Association, I compiled the list below. Being aware of these parts’ roles will help prevent, diagnose, and repair problems before they cause transmission damage, leave a driver stranded, or make for a slow ride home after the car’s computer activates limp-in mode. Following the part name in parenthesis is the RockAuto catalog section where you can see and learn more about this part for particular vehicles.

Control Modules (Electrical): Engine (ECM) / Powertrain (PCM), Body (BCM), Automatic Transmission (TCM), and/or other control modules (some new vehicles have more than ten) use input from sensors such as those below to control shift timing and shift feel. When the responsible control module stops working, the transmission may stop shifting, shift harsh or soft, or catastrophically fail.

Mass Airflow Sensor (Emission), Throttle Position Sensor (Fuel/Air), and Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (Fuel/Air): The Mass Airflow Sensor (MAF) measures the mass flow-rate of air entering the engine. The Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) measures the position of the throttle (gas pedal). The Manifold Pressure Sensor (MAP) measures pressure in the intake manifold. Data from all three sensors can be used to determine engine load. A failed MAF, TPS or MAP can cause late-harsh shifts, early-soft shifts, or the transmission may stop shifting completely.

Air Temperature Sensor (Emission): The temperature of the air entering the engine intake is used to adjust the fuel/air mixture and transmission fluid pressure. A failed intake Air Temperature Sensor may cause the transmission to shift harder than normal.

Air Conditioner Relay (Electrical-Switch & Relay): The Air Conditioner Relay/Sensor indicates when the AC is on or off. This is used to adjust engine speed (RPM). A failed AC Relay may cause engine lugging or other driveability problems that may seem transmission related.

Temperature Sender / Sensor (Cooling System and Transmission-Automatic): The Coolant Temperature Sensor and/or Transmission Oil Temperature Sensor prevents the converter clutch from putting the transmission into overdrive when the engine and transmission are too cold. On some cars, other gears may also be inhibited. These sensors are likely to become even more important as more gears are added to new cars with higher fuel economy requirements. Without correct temperature data there may be late shifts, starting off in the wrong gear, and/or no overdrive gear.

Vehicle Speed Sensor or Differential Speed Sensor (Electrical): The speed sensor mounted on the transmission or differential measures vehicle speed. Without input from this sensor, the transmission may stop shifting or shift late and harsh. The converter clutch may be inhibited and the transmission will not go into overdrive.

Transmission Range Sensor / Neutral Safety Switch (Electrical-Switch & Relay): This sensor indicates the position of the gear shifter. It determines which gears are enabled or disabled. When this sensor fails, the transmission may start out in the wrong gear, fail to up shift, or seem to fall out of gear.

Overdrive Button (Transmission-Automatic): This dash, console, or shifter-mounted switch on some vehicles lets the driver disable overdrive. If the switch fails then the transmission will not go into overdrive or the driver will be unable to disable overdrive.

Brake Light Switch (Electrical Switch & Relay): The Brake Light Switch may also generate brake pedal position signals that are used to release the converter clutch when the vehicle is braking. When the Brake Switch fails, the converter clutch may not activate or deactivate properly. The vehicle may shudder while coming to a stop because the transmission is still in a too high of a gear.

Tom Taylor,
RockAuto.com

Larry's 1999 Pontiac Trans Am Firehawk

This is my 1999 Pontiac Trans Am Firehawk - number 268 out of only 719 made for the U.S. and Canada that year. When I purchased the car, it had been sitting undriven for over four years, on four flat tires, no paint on the hood, brakes rusted, and it wouldn't start. A trip to the tire store for some new rubber and I got her home. Then, thankfully, I found RockAuto which made it affordable and easy to restore my new baby.

I needed a new fuel pump, power window motors, idler pulleys, tensioners, belts, water pump, spark plugs, wires, front and rear rotors and brake pads, front turn signals and pig tail harness, a/c compressor and hoses. While I was working on the mechanical parts I dropped off the hood off to be repainted, I buffed out the rest of the paint with a micro compound then with a glaze, wax, and new Firehawk decals, she is good as new.

Larry in Alabama

Share Your
Hard Work

Do
you purchase parts from RockAuto?
If so, RockAuto would like to
feature you & your car or
truck in our monthly newsletter.
New, old, import, domestic,
daily driver, trailer queen,
classic, antique, we want to
see them all! Please e-mail
flamur@rockauto.com
with your vehicle's history,
interesting details, your favorite
images, and what parts from
RockAuto you have used.

Let
RockAuto Help

Are
you organizing a car show or
other auto related event? From
goody bag stuffers to gift certificates...we
can help. We can even publicize
your event in our newsletter.